Illumination – Illuminated scale or dial – Telephone dial
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-22
2001-04-03
O'Shea, Sandra (Department: 2875)
Illumination
Illuminated scale or dial
Telephone dial
C362S029000, C362S030000, C362S085000, C362S230000, C362S231000, C200S314000, C200S315000, C200S313000, C200S317000, C200S311000, C200S341000, C200S345000, C200S303000, C200S293000, C200S310000, C200S307000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06210010
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to an illuminated pushbutton with variable color lights which are electronically controlled and wherein the light is emitted utilizing solid state devices.
More particularly the invention deals with a momentary action or alternate action switch realized without electromechanical commutation. (“Momentary action” means the generation of an electrical or electronic signal for the entire time the button is maintained active. “Alternate action” means the generation of an electrical or electronic signal which changes in state each time the pushbutton is pushed.) The pushbutton of the invention has an illuminated part consisting of a display which can be divided in independent zones, illuminated with visible light generated inside the button having a wavelength programmable independently for each zone. The zones can be of any number. The pushbutton described in the following is the version divided in four zones.
The invention is in the field of the electronic devices and is applicable to command/control illuminated pushbuttons for mechanical, electrical and electronic equipment. It can be used in the naval, avionic, space fields, and the pushbutton can support any stress even when the device s in operation.
The invention represents an advance in control pushbuttons. The display light is obtained by solid state components. The pushbutton configuration is such that the zones can be colored with any desired color, and these colors can be electrically changed depending on the user needs.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The pushbuttons on the market to the best of our knowledge, are constituted by a switch and a display. The switch generally is mechanical and has a limited life because of the use of mechanical contacts and springs. Mechanical and electrical switching jumps are unwanted negative effects. Such effects generate false signals to be eliminated by electronic means.
Until now in such pushbutton, the part activated by the operator is illuminated by lamps which generate a base light similar to white light and to obtain different colors, filters and optical corrections are employed. These lamps do not permit changes in the emitted light color.
Operating rules and the human engineering prescriptions require the use of lighting of different colors and brightness. For instance, white light is used to permit the reading of information and the identification of the command by the operator; red light is used to read out alarm states and variable lighting (green, blue, amber, etc) can be used depending on the operative conditions.
Lamps have a limited useful life and require access into the illuminated pushbutton for the replacement of failed lamps.
To verify the presence of failed lamps it is necessary to implement a lamp test function that the operator activates using a specific command. The off state of the lamps, creates ambiguity between the condition of failed lamps or a deactivated state of a lamp.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The drawbacks described above are overcome by the illuminated pushbutton of the invention.
The pushbutton has a display made of solid sate components able to supply light, for instance LEDs, in the colors, red, green and blue. By mixing them any light color in the visible light spectrum can be generated without using filters. (Even the intensity can be electronically controlled).
The color switching and intensity are obtained electronically.
The pushbutton allows the activation of electric/electronic switching devices, for example conductive rubber switches, solid state switches, etc.
The pushbutton can be used to carry out millions of operations without incurring disadvantages caused by wear.
The MTBF values (Medium Time Between Failure) attainable are such to eliminate any need for maintenance work.
This illuminated pushbutton can also be employed in cockpits and in command and control panels in mechanical and electric and electronic equipment.
The display illumination is obtained by solid state components, through which it is possible to produce light of any color, even white. The display has unlimited working life by comparison with previous displays.
“Lamp tests” are not necessary.
The display is cold to the touch, even in maximum luminosity conditions.
The display is subdivided in zones and each zone can be illuminated independently both as to luminosity and to color.
The color of each zone can be dynamically varied in accordance with operational conditions. The possibility of change the color of the light, in a dynamic way, satisfied any rules prescribed. It is therefore possible to illuminate any zone with white light to facilitate the reading of legends and of the background, making it readable also in ambient sunlight.
A special switch actuator is employed which is able to control switches without mechanical contacts for instance, conductive rubber or solid state optical switches allowing unlimited numbers of operations even in severe shock and vibration conditions.
The pushbutton can be used in many configurations just by modifying the internal electronic circuits. For instance, by properly modifying the electronic circuitry alternate functions (bistable) of the electric contacts or direct control can be obtained through external commands of emitted light. The illuminated pushbutton can be used with many kinds of serial communications using several standard hardware and software protocols. The pushbutton can also include an internal microcontroller.
Another advantage of this invention is that the illuminated pushbuttons can be applied on panels, individually or in a matrix pattern. The matrix version offers compactness and reduction of the space, weight and cost and a better quality for a smaller number of parts utilized.
The input-output pushbutton connections are realized by direct coupling through motherboards or crimp connectors.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5122626 (1992-06-01), Shinohara et al.
patent: 5165530 (1992-11-01), Shinohara et al.
patent: 5651450 (1997-07-01), Priesemuth
patent: 5655826 (1997-08-01), Kuono
patent: 5941372 (1999-08-01), Johnston
patent: 5962971 (1999-10-01), Chen
patent: 5990435 (1999-11-01), Chao
patent: 6036326 (2000-03-01), Yoshikawa
patent: 6060672 (2000-05-01), Sugihara
Pontetti Antonio
Pontetti Giorgia
Dubno Herbert
G. & A. Engineering S.R.L.
O'Shea Sandra
Ton Anabel M
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